Santa Maria BBQ

amg1444 · 09-22-2012, 09:28 PM

I am relatively new to the Brethren and this will be my first real post. I have lately become obsessed with this site. Normally after I put my daughter to bed, I'm on this site. I will say that my BBQ knowledge has increased greatly since I started viewing this site. Recently I have become very interested in the Santa Maria style BBQ. In doing a lot of research, on this site and other BBQ forums, I was able to locate some plans were changed to my liking. I will now soon be the proud owner of a custom Santa Maria style BBQ. I am working with one of my prototype shops to get this built. The original concept was to be just an open flame BBQ, but wanted something with a little more versatility. I decided to have a lid with a stack installed. I will now have the ability to cook with an open flame, or be able to smoke. Here are a couple pix of the box and lid. There will be more to come soon. I'll continue to update this as progress is made on it.

Foxfire · 09-22-2012, 10:10 PM

First of all, welcome!

Next, that's a badass cooker! It looks chunky, does it have insulated walls?

Rpf41978 · 09-22-2012, 10:15 PM

That looks really nice. Off to look up Santa Maria BBQ now...

Foxfire · 09-22-2012, 10:18 PM

Earlier this summer my work had a company picnic in a public park and our reserved site had a Santa Maria cooker. I was on grill duty and it was my first time using such a beast. Worked out okay, but I admire anyone who knows what they're doing on such a monster.

amg1444 · 09-22-2012, 10:19 PM

Thanks, and no they're not. Do you think it would be necessary? How would you recomend doing it?

columbia1 · 09-22-2012, 10:23 PM

Nice build, VERY "clean" looking!!!!

Just BS · 09-22-2012, 11:00 PM

That's cool. I/we sure would like too see it opened up.

I've been working on some plans to build my own pit and although I initially wanted to build it Santa Maria style it was cost prohibitive, so this will be interesting to follow.

Good luck & please keep us posted.

Foxfire · 09-23-2012, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amg1444

Thanks, and no they're not. Do you think it would be necessary? How would you recomend doing it?

Well I'm no expert, but I think a "traditional" Santa Maria is open air but uses a crank mechanism to raise and lower the cooking grate closer or further from the heat. We're already into new territory with a lid.

That said, an enclosed, insulated cooker will be easier to maintain steady temps, cooks with convection, and is more fuel efficient.

To build an insulated cooker, you basically have to make everything double-walled and put an insulator between the layers. I saw pix of a great build elsewhere, if I find them again I'll link.

But you don't need any of that to have a great cooker! Not by any means. The Weber kettle, the UDS, the Lang reverse flow... none of them are insulated. Only asked because it looked like yours might be. :)

Looks like an awesome build... what's it like to cook on?

amg1444 · 09-23-2012, 09:58 AM

It's not yet complete. I've been traveling for work a lot this month, so haven't been able to check it out lately. Gonna have to make a

I was going for something a little less traditional for this. When complete, it will still have the ability to cook over an open flame, and the grate will be able to be raised and lowered. The lid just adds a second dimension to it.

I'll post more pix soon.

Foxfire · 09-23-2012, 10:51 AM

Looking forward to it! I love innovative build threads.

big brother smoke · 09-23-2012, 10:54 AM

That is going to be an outstanding weapon for sure.

amg1444 · 09-26-2012, 05:06 PM

Talked to the shop today, haven't been able to work on it much lately. A little disappointed, but that's OK, I'm in no rush for it to get done, and they're doing this as a favor for me. Hope to be able to post some more pix next.

Foxfire · 09-26-2012, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amg1444

Talked to the shop today, haven't been able to work on it much lately. A little disappointed, but that's OK, I'm in no rush for it to get done, and they're doing this as a favor for me. Hope to be able to post some more pix next.

Looking forward to it!

martyleach · 09-26-2012, 08:05 PM

I don't know if you've looked at them but Hasty-Bake makes a lidded, adjustable height fire tray.

mbshop · 09-26-2012, 10:29 PM

take a look at these.
http://engelbrechtgrills.com/index.php
bobby flay uses one of these i think.

09-22-2012, 09:28 PM	#1
amg1444 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 07-25-12 Location: Findlay, OH	Santa Maria BBQ I am relatively new to the Brethren and this will be my first real post. I have lately become obsessed with this site. Normally after I put my daughter to bed, I'm on this site. I will say that my BBQ knowledge has increased greatly since I started viewing this site. Recently I have become very interested in the Santa Maria style BBQ. In doing a lot of research, on this site and other BBQ forums, I was able to locate some plans were changed to my liking. I will now soon be the proud owner of a custom Santa Maria style BBQ. I am working with one of my prototype shops to get this built. The original concept was to be just an open flame BBQ, but wanted something with a little more versatility. I decided to have a lid with a stack installed. I will now have the ability to cook with an open flame, or be able to smoke. Here are a couple pix of the box and lid. There will be more to come soon. I'll continue to update this as progress is made on it. Last edited by amg1444; 12-16-2012 at 09:01 AM..

09-22-2012, 10:23 PM	#6
columbia1 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-15-12 Location: Kalama Wa.	Nice build, VERY "clean" looking!!!! __________________ [URL="http://tombstonebbq.com"]"Tombstone BBQ"[/URL] PNWBA Board Member and Certified Judge. KCBS Custom 72" reverse flow smoker, 18" WSM, Weber Elite, ECB. and misc grills. [URL="https://www.facebook.com/TombstoneBbq?ref=hl"]Tombstone BBQ on Facebook[/URL]

09-23-2012, 10:54 AM	#11
big brother smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-06 Location: Ventura, CA	That is going to be an outstanding weapon for sure. __________________ Peace and Smoke, BBS Powered by the West Coast Offense: Big Poppa Smokers and Simply Marvelous BBQ - "Walk with Us" My weapons: Humphrey's Smokers

09-26-2012, 08:05 PM	#14
martyleach Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-17-10 Location: Pleasanton, Ca	I don't know if you've looked at them but Hasty-Bake makes a lidded, adjustable height fire tray. __________________ XL BGE, Kamado Joe Jr, Santa Maria pit, 26" Weber custom performer, MAK One Star pellet cooker, 14.5" WSM, Jumbo Joe, WGA, Arte Flame griddle insert for the 26" Weber. Custom wooden handles for BBQ's made by Marty Leach (oh, that's me) [url]http://www.amlwoodart.com[/url]

09-26-2012, 10:29 PM	#15
mbshop Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-24-07 Location: visalia, ca	take a look at these. http://engelbrechtgrills.com/index.php bobby flay uses one of these i think. __________________ george spam, can't live without it

09-22-2012, 10:10 PM	#2
Foxfire Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-28-12 Location: San Jose, CA	First of all, welcome! Next, that's a badass cooker! It looks chunky, does it have insulated walls?

09-22-2012, 10:15 PM	#3
Rpf41978 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-20-12 Location: Friendswood, Texas	That looks really nice. Off to look up Santa Maria BBQ now...

09-22-2012, 10:18 PM	#4
Foxfire Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-28-12 Location: San Jose, CA	Earlier this summer my work had a company picnic in a public park and our reserved site had a Santa Maria cooker. I was on grill duty and it was my first time using such a beast. Worked out okay, but I admire anyone who knows what they're doing on such a monster.

09-22-2012, 10:19 PM	#5
amg1444 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 07-25-12 Location: Findlay, OH	Thanks, and no they're not. Do you think it would be necessary? How would you recomend doing it?

09-22-2012, 11:00 PM	#7
Just BS is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-10-12 Location: Lost in the woods, somewhere in the PNW	That's cool. I/we sure would like too see it opened up. I've been working on some plans to build my own pit and although I initially wanted to build it Santa Maria style it was cost prohibitive, so this will be interesting to follow. Good luck & please keep us posted.

09-23-2012, 09:58 AM	#9
amg1444 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 07-25-12 Location: Findlay, OH	It's not yet complete. I've been traveling for work a lot this month, so haven't been able to check it out lately. Gonna have to make a I was going for something a little less traditional for this. When complete, it will still have the ability to cook over an open flame, and the grate will be able to be raised and lowered. The lid just adds a second dimension to it. I'll post more pix soon.

09-23-2012, 10:51 AM	#10
Foxfire Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-28-12 Location: San Jose, CA	Looking forward to it! I love innovative build threads.

09-26-2012, 05:06 PM	#12
amg1444 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 07-25-12 Location: Findlay, OH	Talked to the shop today, haven't been able to work on it much lately. A little disappointed, but that's OK, I'm in no rush for it to get done, and they're doing this as a favor for me. Hope to be able to post some more pix next.